Elite 11 Finals Preview: Top quarterbacks set to compete in Los Angeles

Twenty of the nation’s top quarterbacks in the 2024 cycle will make their way to Los Angeles later this week to compete in the Elite 11 Finals — the nation’s premier high school quarterback camp. The event is set to run from June 14 to June 16.

The Elite 11 Finals marks one of the final off-season events for these top quarterbacks prior to the all-important senior season. The majority of the top ranked quarterback prospects in the cycle are set to be on hand, including 10 On300 prospects.

Complete Elite 11 Finals Roster

The setting allows for a direct side-by-side comparison of many of the cycle’s top passers. We’re able to get a sense for some of the physical tools, passing ability and level of development of the participants. With that said, the Elite 11 is a highly structured setting, absent of a pass rush or a true open environment akin to a live, 11-on-11 football game.

While performance at the camp does matter for our evaluations, we feel it’s important to take a big picture view as it relates to projectable skills rather than thin-slicing camp minutiae. So while what we see at the event can be informative, it must be viewed in the proper context in order to have real utility in the evaluation. The Elite 11 is ultimately one of several a pieces in the larger evaluation process.

Let’s take a look at some of the big names at this year’s event.

SEC commits headline Elite 11 Finals

The group is headlined by a trio of SEC commitments – Five-Star Plus+ prospect Dylan Raiola (Georgia), Julian Sayin (Alabama) and DJ Lagway (Florida).

Dylan Raiola (No. 7 in the On300) has been tabbed as the cycle’s top quarterback prospect dating to our initial rankings release in the spring of 2022. The 6-foot-2.5, 220-pounder surfaced as a top arm talent with flashes of playmaking ability in his sophomore season at Burleson (Texas) High. He had ups and downs as a junior at Chandler (Ariz.) High. At the minimum, the gap between Raiola and the rest of the pack does not appear to be as large as it once appeared. Heading into the Elite 11, we’re eager to compare Raiola’s arm talent and pure passing ability to the rest of the group. Is he the head and shoulders top arm in the cycle? As is the case for most of the passers on hand, the story on Raiola’s evaluation will likely be written during his senior season at Phoenix (Ariz.) Pinnacle. But we will get a glimpse of where he’s at heading into the fall and a much clearer picture of how he stacks up among the group from a tools perspective.

Julian Sayin (No. 18) is the most consistent arm in the cycle to this point – across multiple settings. The Carlsbad (Calif.) High product is technically refined with one of the quickest releases among the group. He’s highly accurate and there’s very little variance from throw to throw. As is the case with several others, the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder has not shown to have overwhelming physical tools to this point. With that said, the Elite 11 Finals should provide a clearer look at how his arm strength compares within the group.

Heading into the event, I’d put my money on DJ Lagway (No. 20) as the most physically-gifted Elite 11 Finalist. At around 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Lagway has one of the strongest arms in the cycle along with very good athleticism. The Willis (Texas) High product’s highs are the best we’ve seen from the group. If Lagway continues to improve his overall consistency and has a big senior season, he could challenge as the top quarterback in the cycle.

Top challengers at Elite 11 Finals

Several other big names will be in Los Angles and look to mount a challenge.

Ohio State commit Air Noland (No. 42) had the best junior season of any Elite 11 Finalist. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder shredded defenses to the tune of 4,095 yards and 55 touchdowns while leading his team to a state title against tough competition in the state of Georgia. Noland is an intelligent, accurate passer with a strong feel for the game. Similar to Sayin, we’ll be looking to see how his physical tools stack up among the group in this setting.

Florida State pledge Luke Kromenhoek (No. 46) has shown some of the best physical traits of the group up to this point. The Savannah (Ga.) Benedictine signal caller is 6-foot-3.5, 190 pounds with a big arm and good movement skills. Kromenhoek was a first year starter as a junior and is probably a little earlier in his developmental curve than some of the others for that reason, but has the potential to ascend with continued experience and added consistency. The size, arm and athleticism look to be very translatable.

Ryan Puglisi (No. 104) will join Raiola in giving Georgia two commits at the Elite 11 Finals. The Avon (Conn.) Avon Old Farms passer has one of the strongest arms in the cycle. Puglisi is not an easy evaluation as a player on Friday nights given he plays in a New England boarding school league, so this week will give us the opportunity to compare him with the other top passers. We’ll particularly be watching to see how he fares in the 7-on-7 portion of the event.

Michigan commit Jadyn Davis (No. 115) has been highly touted dating back to his freshman season. At 6-foot-0.5, 195 pounds, Davis is an in-structure distributor who had his best prep season as a junior after transferring to Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day. We’re eager to see how Davis’s pure passing ability and physical tools stack up.

Elijah Brown (No. 176) is one of just a few uncommitted Elite 11 Finalists. He’s been at the helm of national powerhouse Mater Dei for the past several seasons and is an established winner on Friday nights. To this point, Brown has looked more comfortable in the high school setting as opposed to a neutral environment. Will Brown settle in after more time at the Elite 11 and how does his natural talent fit within the group? Stanford is out front according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Notre Dame pledge CJ Carr (No. 193) is one of the more technically polished Elite 11 Finalists. The Saline (Mich.) High product is steady and consistent in the camp setting. We would not be surprised if he turns in a consistent performance in this setting. While much of his evaluation will hinge on the senior season, we’ll be looking to see how his arm strength checks out this week.

LSU commit Colin Hurley is the youngest Elite 11 Finalist. The one-time 2025 prospect reclassified to the 2024 cycle upon committing to the Tigers. Hurley has a very strong arm that is capable of making some of the best throws we’ll see in this neutral setting. He will need to make a jump in what will be his senior season, but added consistency and accuracy at the Elite 11 Finals could be a positive sign.

Potential risers

Trever Jackson has shown flashes of one of the higher physical upsides among the Elite 11 Finalists. He was a first-year starter as a junior at Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange and has turned in some strong showings on the camp circuit. Jackson could be primed for a big senior season with the Elite 11 Finals being a jumping off point. He took an official visit to Pittsburgh and is set to visit Missouri later this month.

TCU commit Hauss Hejny looks like the most athletic Elite 11 Finalist, perhaps by a comfortable margin. The Horned Frog legacy ran for 1,276 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior and has sub 11.0-second speed in the 100 meters along with an electronic sub 4.5 second 40-yard dash. Hejny is not a big-framed quarterback at around 5-foot-11, 185 pounds. He could ascend if the arm stacks up well.

Ethan Grunkemeyer (Penn State) and Will Hammond (Texas Tech) are two more current three-stars who could make a move with strong showings and big senior seasons.

Top position prospects set to attend

A number of blue-chip skill players are set to catch passes and participate in the 7-on-7 portion of the event.

The headliner of the group is Five-Star Plus+ wide receiverJeremiah Smith. The Ohio State commit ranks as the No. 3 overall prospect in the On300 and looks to be one of the top pass catchers in recent cycles. The week in California will give us a further in-person look at the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder.

Smith will be joined by his high school teammate, Joshisa Trader (No. 53). Recent Clemson commit TJ Moore (No. 139), Aeryn Hampton (No. 145), Dre’lon Miller (No. 172), Oregon commit Jordan Anderson (No. 210) and Georgia commit NiTareon Tuggle (No. 286) are among the blue-chip 2024 wide receivers expected. 2025 wideout Jaime Ffrench is another name of note.

Ohio State commit James Peoples (No. 110) is the headliner among the running backs, while Florida State pledge Landen Thomas (No. 35) and Walter Matthews (No. 147) will give the quarterbacks big targets as tight ends.

A pair of Georgia commits, Jaylen Heyward (No. 54) and Demello Jones (No. 128) will be in the secondary while Chris Cole – one of the biggest summer risers nationally – is the headliner at linebacker.